Umweltdachverband

What Umweltdachverband does

Umweltdachverband GmbH is the Austrian national umbrella organization for environmental NGOs and initiatives, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Vienna. It coordinates the interests of its member organizations and youth environmental groups (including BirdLife Österreich, Alpenvereinsjugend, Naturschutzjugend, Naturfreundejugend, and Pfadfinder), representing them in policy processes at Austrian federal and EU levels. Core activities include environmental education, policy advocacy, and operation of digital platforms for conservation monitoring.

The organization's technical product surface includes a Natura 2000 Platform covering 350 protected sites, a Water Power Monitoring system tracking 359 hydropower projects (211 of which are in planning), an environmental publication repository, the Umwelt.Echo blog, an event platform, and the Forum Umweltbildung education webshop. Sub-brands (Forum Umweltbildung, Circular Futures, Umwelt.Echo) extend its footprint into education delivery and circular-economy advocacy. Notable projects include the LIFEstockProtect initiative (2020–2025, large-carnivore coexistence) and the Wellbeing Economy / Beyond GDP programme (2024–2026, macroeconomic paradigm shift).

The organization operates as a non-profit legal entity (GmbH) funded primarily through Austrian federal ministry grants (BMK, BMLRT, BMLUK, BMIMI), EU programme funding (ELER), membership fees from member organizations, and donations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Staffing is approximately 30 employees based in Vienna, with leadership including a Teamleitung currently on Bildungskarenz and project managers across environmental education, policy, and communications functions.

Name

Umweltdachverband

Legal name

Umweltdachverband GmbH

Website

https://umweltdachverband.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Umweltdachverband is the Austrian national umbrella organization for environmental NGOs, founded in 1993 in Vienna, coordinating member organizations and youth groups on policy advocacy, environmental education, and conservation monitoring across EU and federal programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy and Non-profit Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy
• Nature conservation
• Water protection
• Sustainability education
• Natura 2000

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees and organizational support: Funding from member organizations and institutional support from Austrian federal ministries (BMLUK, BMIMI)
2. Public funding and grants: Project funding from BMK (Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie), BMLRT (Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Regionen und Tourismus), and European Union rural development programs (ELER)
3. Donations: Individual donations, corporate donations, testamentary donations, and funeral wreaths (Kranzspenden) for nature and environmental causes

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Umweltdachverband is an Austrian environmental umbrella organization that coordinates and represents member environmental NGOs, conducts advocacy on EU environmental policy implementation (notably Natura 2000 and the Water Framework Directive), and runs environmental education programs. The organization publishes position papers and reports, organizes workshops and summer academies (e.g., Wildnispädagogik, BNE-Sommerakademie), and operates the Forum Umweltbildung environmental education forum with an associated webshop for educational materials.

Product overview

Umweltdachverband (Austrian Environmental Umbrella Association) operates primarily as an advocacy and educational organization rather than a software product company. The organization maintains a website providing access to thematic content on nature conservation, water protection, climate/energy, sustainability, circular economy, Alpine protection, environmental law, and European environmental policy. The portfolio includes informational platforms on Natura 2000 and hydropower monitoring, publication repositories, event management for environmental education, and an educational materials webstore. Key publications include the Natura 2000 'Back to the Future' study, water fees study, and various river conservation materials. Educational resources include biodiversity riddles, theater methods, and role-playing games for youth engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forum Umweltbildung: Environmental education forum operated by Umweltdachverband, with its own webshop at umweltbildung.at
• Circular Futures - Plattform Kreislaufwirtschaft Österreich
• Umwelt.Echo

Products and services

• Forum Umweltbildung (Environmental Education Forum) An environmental education forum operated by Umweltdachverband with its own webshop at umweltbildung.at, providing educational resources and materials on sustainability and environmental topics for educators, schools, and youth organizations in Austria.
• Environmental Education Workshops and Academies Training programs including the Wildnispädagogik (Wilderness Pedagogy) course at Nationalpark Kalkalpen, BNE-Sommerakademie (Education for Sustainable Development Summer Academy), and Methodenakademie workshops for educators and youth leaders.
• Danube Art Master An art competition program engaging youth and artists along the Danube focused on biodiversity, river ecosystems, and nature conservation themes.
• Circular Futures - Plattform Kreislaufwirtschaft Österreich (Circular Economy Platform Austria) A platform for advancing circular economy in Austria, managed by Umweltdachverband, convening stakeholders around circular economy topics and including the Wellbeing Economy and Beyond GDP initiative.
• Hydropower Planning Monitoring Service A monitoring and tracking system that maintains lists of current hydropower plant planning projects in Austria, particularly those affecting sensitive areas and Natura 2000 sites, providing data for advocacy and policy interventions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Monitoring 359 hydropower projects including 211 in planning stage across Austria
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alpenvereinsjugend (Austrian Alpine Club Youth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Ich und die Vielfalt' youth biodiversity project, contributing methodological and content expertise to youth environmental education programs.
• Österreichische Naturschutzjugend (Austrian Nature Conservation Youth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in biodiversity youth projects, responsible for conservation work camps and practical conservation activities for young people.
• Naturfreundejugend Österreich (Friends of Nature Youth Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in youth biodiversity and environmental education projects, implementing workshops and youth programs.
• Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs (Austrian Scouts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in youth environmental education, implementing creative contests and educational materials for youth engagement.
• EU-Umweltbüro (EU Environment Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on EU environmental policy, Natura 2000 implementation, and environmental advocacy at the European level.
• BirdLife ÖsterreichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy on EU nature conservation directives, including public statements criticizing the review of Birds and Habitats Directives.
• Circular Futures PlattformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform for circular economy in Austria; Umweltdachverband contributes expertise on circular economy topics.
• Forum UmweltbildungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education forum operating under Umweltdachverband, providing educational resources and hosting a webshop for environmental materials.
• CIPRA ÖsterreichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlpine protection organization; collaboration on Alpine conservation and protection topics.
• ActinGreenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre education organization that collaborated on biodiversity theatrical methods brochure 'Vielfalt bewegt'.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• WWF Österreich: Austrian branch of WWF operating as an environmental advocacy and conservation NGO based in Vienna, with comparable focus on species protection, freshwater, and policy advocacy in the same Austrian and EU policy arenas.
• Naturschutzbund Österreich: Austrian conservation NGO working on biodiversity, habitat protection, and policy advocacy; comparable Austrian domestic scope, mission overlap on nature protection, and similar reliance on member support and public funding.
• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): Germany's largest environmental association, operating as an NGO umbrella with ~875,000 members, focused on biodiversity, Natura 2000, climate, and environmental education — directly comparable in mission, membership model, and advocacy scope to Umweltdachverband.
• CIPRA Österreich (CIPRA Austria): Austrian national committee of CIPRA International focused on Alpine protection and sustainable development; existing Umweltdachverband partner with overlapping Alpine conservation, sustainability, and EU-policy advocacy mission.
• Global 2000 (Greenpeace Austria predecessor/parallel): Austrian environmental NGO active in environmental protection, consumer protection, and policy advocacy; directly comparable Austrian geographic scope, advocacy model, and reliance on donations and public funding.
• BirdLife Österreich: Austrian partner of BirdLife International focused on bird and habitat conservation; a strategic partner of Umweltdachverband, jointly advocating on EU Birds/Habitats Directives and operating in the same Austrian policy and Natura 2000 space.

Broad incumbents

• European Environmental Bureau (EEB): EU-wide umbrella of environmental NGOs influencing EU environmental policy; operates at the supranational layer that Umweltdachverband engages with through its EU-Umweltbüro work on Nature Directives and Water Framework Directive.
• Greenpeace CEE: Larger, internationally funded environmental advocacy organization with Austrian presence; operates on the same environmental policy topics (climate, biodiversity, water) but with broader geographic scope and a more campaign-driven model.

Others

• Forum Umweltbildung (subsidiary/operational arm): Environmental education forum operated by Umweltdachverband with its own webstore and BNE programs; while internal, it functions as an adjacent education-services peer in the same network, comparable to independent German BNE platforms.

Regional players

• Bund Naturschutz in Bayern (BN): Largest Bavarian environmental NGO with >250,000 members; comparable DACH-region membership umbrella structure, but focused on Bavaria with deeper membership scale than Umweltdachverband's Austria focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umweltdachverband

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Umweltdachverband